Didn't happen. Alabama looked like an NFL team start to finish. I was dead wrong thinking the Tide wouldn't roll.

I was sold that Al Borges, Michigan's offensive coordinator, would try to run Robinson early and often to set up the pass. We are talking about a game changer at quarterback. Robinson was the only offensive weapon the Wolverines had at kickoff Saturday night.

The guy rushed for 16 touchdowns and almost 1,200 yards last year. He put up 170 on the ground against Ohio State in a 40-34 win. You would think the Michigan coaches would know their only chance at beating a team like Alabama is if Robinson has a big night.

I was wrong.

He ran only twice in the first half -- once for a first down, the other for a touchdown. That is just plain ignorant to not run the ball when Robinson is that fast and effective. His career average on first down is almost 6 yards per carry.

Why can't Borges see that you run Denard to set up the pass? Where is a roll out or bootleg to get away from the defense and disguise a run or pass? We watched that offensive game plan in the Sugar Bowl win. Michigan was lucky to get out of New Orleans with that victory.

Maybe the Michigan coaching staff thought they could beat Alabama the same way they won the BCS game. Boy, were they wrong. I'm still stunned at Borges trying to make Robinson a pocket passer. To not use his speed in every series of every big game is just bad coaching.

In four big games last year Al Borges tried to make Robinson a pocket passer first: The Notre Dame miracle, the Michigan State debacle, the loss at Iowa and the Sugar Bowl.

• Against Notre Dame, Michigan fell behind, and only then did Robinson start to freelance. The Fighting Irish had no clue if he was going to run or pass, and D-Rob pulled off the miracle.

• The game plan against Michigan State also featured Robinson as the "quarterback who doesn't run." I gave the MSU defense some credit for shutting him down. But Robinson scrambled to help Michigan score the first time, and he hardly ever ran after that. Why? He scored on a 15-yard scramble, then Borges went to that ridiculous Devin Gardner experiment that included Robinson on the sidelines for some plays. The Spartans destroyed Robinson in the pocket.

• I sat in the end zone in Iowa City and watched the worst offensive game plan I had seen since the MSU loss. Only problem, Iowa wasn't that good. Again, Gardner came in and Robinson stayed in the pocket. It was Michigan's the second loss of the year. I heard Hawkeyes fans on the way out wondering why Michigan didn't run Robinson more. Michigan ran him to set up the pass the rest of the regular season and never lost another game.

The exclamation point was Robinson with 170 yards on the ground with 26 carries in the 40-34 win over an athletic Ohio State defense. You would have thought the coaches finally would understand what Robinson is all about.

It seems Borges just can't accept Robinson for the quarterback he really is.

The Sugar Bowl was the worst use of Robinson, or any quarterback, with 20 extra practices I had ever seen from a staff. Virginia Tech was good, but not that good.

Speed isn't utilizedBoy, was I wrong about Borges capitalizing on Robinson's speed against Alabama.

You would have thought after watching Robinson using his legs to beat Ohio State last year, that would be the blueprint for success against any quality opponent for his senior year.

That was the main reason I picked them to win. That is why I thought Robinson could win the Heisman Trophy.

What seems to show more than Robinson's speed is Borges' offensive system. That is a critical mistake on the way to rebuilding a program. I know 11-2 last year goes a long way, but when you have a special talent like Robinson for one final season, you throw your system out the window. You take advantage of his speed to start every big game. If that doesn't work, then you go to the system playbook.

I'll take the heat for being wrong on all accounts in that column.

I thought Saturday was Robinson's night to shine. I thought he had that ability to carry the team on his back. I still believe this, but when the coaches hold him back, they kill any chance of winning any big game this year.

I will say Alabama coaches deserve more of the credit than Michigan coaches do the blame. Nick Saban had his team ready in every phase of the game.

Beyond the insanity of not letting D-Rob run the football early, the Michigan defense tackled as bad as any Wolverine defense ever has in a big game. They were beyond brutal. They are better than what they showed Saturday night.

The coaches and players better improve in a hurry, because the schedule is screaming for more carries for Robinson and better tackling starting Saturday at home against Air Force.

-- Bill Simonson is host of "The Huge Show," a syndicated radio sports talk show broadcast statewide